Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Styrene

Cassadaga Village

Styrene is a volatile cancer-causing chemical used for manufacturing Styrofoam (polystyrene) and other plastics. Releases from industrial production sites and hazardous waste landfills cause styrene contamination in drinking water. Read More.

In addition to increasing the risk of cancer, styrene can also damage the liver and the nervous system. California set a public health goal for styrene in drinking water at 0.5 parts per billion. The federal Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) allows up to 100 parts per billion of styrene in water, which is 200 times more than the California recommended level.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

 

18

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND60ND
2019ND50ND
2020ND20ND
2021ND30ND
2022ND10ND
2023ND10ND

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 0.5 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.5 ppb for styrene was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 100 ppb

The legal limit for styrene, established in 1991, was based on a toxicity study in laboratory animals conducted in the 1970s. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to styrene exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2018-03-21POC 2018ND
2018-07-16POCS 2018 CASS WL4ND
2018-07-16POCS 2018 CASS WL1ND
2018-07-16POCS 2018 CASS WL5ND
2018-10-032018 POC CASSADAGAND
2018-10-09POCS 2018 CASS RESAMND
2019-03-20Q1 19 POCS WL1 CASSND
2019-03-20POCS 19 WL5 CASSADAGND
2019-05-22Q2 19 POCS WL1 CASSND
2019-08-28Q3 19 POCS WL1 CASSND
2019-11-06Q4 19 POCS WL1 CASSND
2020-08-1820 POCS WL5 CASSADAGND
2020-08-1820 POCS WL1 CASSADAGND
2021-04-19POCS 21 CASS WL1ND
2021-04-19POCS 21 CASS WL4ND
2021-04-19POCS 21 CASS WL5ND
2022-03-16POCS 22 CASS WL1ND
2023-12-20POCS 23 CASS WL1ND